Mezonte Raicilla Japo is a small batch Raicilla from Cabo Corrientes, which is a cape on the Pacific coast of Jalisco, south of Puerto Vallarta.
About this raicilla
Mezonte Raicilla Japo is made with maguey Amarillo (Agave rhodacantha), which is either synonymous or very closely related to maguey Mexicano. This Raicilla is made by Hildegardo “Japo” Joya in Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco. Japo is 87 years old (as of 2019) and still producing regularly. Per tradition in this region, he only harvests agave under the light of a full moon.
Mezonte
Mezonte is a noprofit organization that promotes, supports, and preserves the production and practices of traditional agave spirits. Mezonte’s main objective is to create awareness of the cultural and biological value that these spirits represent. They feature agave spirits from all over Mexico, with an emphasis on Jalisco and Michoacán. Their producers make mezcal, raicilla, barranca, tuxca, sikua, or any other name used for distilled agave in this region. When Mezonte buys a batch from a producer, they only buy 60% of the batch because they want the community and the culture of the community to continue to consume and enjoy as they have for hundreds of years.
Learn more about Mezonte:
- Mezonte Supports Family Producers & Damn Good Mezcal on the K&L Wines Spirits Journal blog
Review this bottle
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GMAD
97 reviewsBatch: 007 2022, 45.3%, 200ml
Nose – Funky, briny, and dirty. Curry, peanuts, wet wood, old attic, raisins, ginger, and mango.
Palate – Floral, tart, and a little acidic. Ginseng green tea (Arizona), Worcestershire sauce, grass, lemon, honey, anise, root beer, and some sugar cane.
Finish – A nutty fruitiness. Pears, Jasmine tea, licorice, and some bittersweet nuts.
Good! This possesses a very interesting and robust, flavor and aroma. It’s very funky and savory; tastes like a sauce. A bit spicy and peppery too, it reminds me of sipping a blanco tequila.
Batch: 007 2022, 45.3%, 200ml
Nose – Funky, briny, and dirty. Curry, peanuts, wet wood, old attic, raisins, ginger, and mango.
Palate – Floral, tart, and a little acidic. Ginseng green tea (Arizona), Worcestershire sauce, grass, lemon, honey, anise, root beer, and some sugar cane.
Finish – A nutty fruitiness. Pears, Jasmine tea, licorice, and some bittersweet nuts.
Good! This possesses a very interesting and robust, flavor and aroma. It’s very funky and savory; tastes li
Ben P
149 reviewsBatch 6 Jan 2020
Nose: earth, unripe red grapes, bbq, clay, some pine, briny
Palate: fruity yogurt, oranges, pineapples, peanuts, tobacco and char. Finish: this sort of nutty finish, hazelnut, burnt though, crispy veggies, tart pickles
Solid overall.
JewelsLaforgue
3 reviewsBatch 03/2019 – intriguing nose consisting mostly of olive brine and the much-lauded yoghurt belch. Plunging my schnozz into the haze yielded such delights that I almost forgot to start sipping.
This is probably the most complex and rewarding agave spirit I have had until now and it sets the bar unbelievably high if it happens to be your first. A savory mix of vanilla and cheese, with an occasional meaty note (eau de hot dogue confirmed) that just kept me coming back for more. For 47% ABV, this one goes down quite smoothly, and the afterburn is as timid as it gets.
If you dig complex flavors and don’t really care about sweetness, you might have quite a challenge on your hands microdosing this baby, since it is so delightful yet moreish at the same time. Not particularly unctuous, but it has a long aftertaste and admirable persistence (just leave that glass unwashed for a while and come back to it every now and then for a whiff). A negligible presence of greenery – this one rolls the animal dice and hits a massive 6.
Hopefully some mastermind will design some Dune-style stillsuit to help agave hounds retain some of this goodness.
Batch 03/2019 – intriguing nose consisting mostly of olive brine and the much-lauded yoghurt belch. Plunging my schnozz into the haze yielded such delights that I almost forgot to start sipping.
This is probably the most complex and rewarding agave spirit I have had until now and it sets the bar unbelievably high if it happens to be your first. A savory mix of vanilla and cheese, with an occasional meaty note (eau de hot dogue confirmed) that just kept me coming back for more. For 47% ABV,
Jose M. Aguayo
11 reviewsNose: tart yogurt;
Taste: cooked agave; tart; pine
little agave
72 reviewsBatch 04 2019. 350 liters in batch.
Aroma: sweet bbq layers, parmesan cheese, mashed potatoes, molasses, hickory
Palate: Fresh, bell pepper, earthy, peat
I would happily sip this again, as in I very much enjoy it! Grateful to have the opportunity to taste this. Of the Raicilla’s I’ve tasted this is my go to.
aarild
153 reviewsNo batch. Smells of pine cone, and a mineral touch with smoke, yoghurt just before going bad.
Very nutty, tastes annatto seeds, pecan, fried pineapple, honey. Well integrated alcohol. If you fall for the flavours, there is nothing to stop it from being a five stars raicilla, but personally I think it is a bit like the harsher lambic beers from Belgium: Too much barnyard bitterness overtaking the funk.
Americana Kyle
60 reviewsVery good, not overly funky but definitely a very in your face type of raicillia. Worth a try!
meserole
73 reviewsBright sweet corn taste like a white whiskey. Cools down quickly in the mouth. Decent, but not a flavor I’m drawn to at all, and it’s worth noting a bottle runs $150+ in US. I just had a pour though.
2018 Lote 1
AdrianM
20 reviewsSimply amazing Raicilla.
dontimo66
5 reviewsPicked this bottle up in Guadalajara in November 2019. One of the best Raicilla’s I’ve had to date. Earthy clay, smoke, caramelized sugar, melon, banana. Great texture with vanilla sweetness
Gregg T&T
100 reviewsLactic cheese funk on the nose – greek yogurt, dill and cucumber. Really velvety body, honeysuckle and a faint spice of pepper. Relatively short but complex finish.
BartFargo
21 reviews2018 Lot 1, 400 liters
Nose: Savory and herbal – fresh queso, tzatziki sauce and banana peppers, with a hearty sprinkling of oregano, cilantro, chopped sweet onion and pancetta. A little fruit shows with time in the form of lightly smoky roasted pineapple.
Palate: Still savory and pungent, with a big spoonful of yogurt seasoned with sautéed onions, mixed green herbs, bacon and citrus zest. Sweet baked agave peeks through here and there. Medium, silky body.
Finish: Savory herbed yogurt and bacon notes continue, complemented by sweet and sour sauce and a little blackberry. Medium-long length.
Thoughts: Consistent profile from start to finish, but really impressive. The funky yogurt and bacon notes are far more in balance than other raicillas I’ve tried, and the rich herbal bouquet provides a great deal of depth. If you like your agave savory, this is a must try.
2018 Lot 1, 400 liters
Nose: Savory and herbal – fresh queso, tzatziki sauce and banana peppers, with a hearty sprinkling of oregano, cilantro, chopped sweet onion and pancetta. A little fruit shows with time in the form of lightly smoky roasted pineapple.
Palate: Still savory and pungent, with a big spoonful of yogurt seasoned with sautéed onions, mixed green herbs, bacon and citrus zest. Sweet baked agave peeks through here and there. Medium, silky body.
Finish: Savory herbed yogurt
justsomedude
28 reviewsAnother fantastic offering from Mezonte. Jony found this to be incredibly complex but did not fit his palate. Well it fits my palate perfectly because I love the tangy yogurt notes found in both the nose and palate. I’m not sure about pickles and hotdog water though, I got mostly red and black berries, lemongrass, yogurt, creme fraiche, honey and agave. Mouthfeel is rich and coats the whole palate. Finish is long and leaves only the pleasant aspects of yogurt with honey and agave. 93/100
Another fantastic offering from Mezonte. Jony found this to be incredibly complex but did not fit his palate. Well it fits my palate perfectly because I love the tangy yogurt notes found in both the nose and palate. I’m not sure about pickles and hotdog water though, I got mostly red and black berries, lemongrass, yogurt, creme fraiche, honey and agave. Mouthfeel is rich and coats the whole palate. Finish is long and leaves only the pleasant aspects of yogurt with honey and agave. 93/100
Jonny
736 reviewsLot 01 from 2018. 400 litres in the batch. Aromas of yogurt, hot dog water, and pickles… in kind of a good way, but very funky. Slight ammonia aroma as well…again not off putting, but very funky. A bit thin on the palate with notes of fresh cotton, lemon peel, potatoes skins, and more boiled hot dogs. This is dynamic and complex for sure. Not my favorite however, but it might just not be a good fit for my palate.
GreenspointTexas
385 reviews10/10 would smash again